The State's broadband infrastructure has taken another step forward after the official completion of the ESB national fibre-optic network was announced today.
Minister for Communications, Mr Dermot Ahern, today switched on the northern loop of the network, the final link in the 13,000 kilmetre chain, in Dundalk, Co Louth.
Mr Ahern said he hoped to see further developments on the cost of broadband following recent "dramatic" price cuts in the wholesale market. He also said he intended to make broadband available to an additional 90 towns within a short time-frame "at a very competitive price".
Mr Ahern urged the industry to act upon the developments in infrastructure and price that have already taken place.
ESB chairman, Mr Tadhg O'Donoghus, said the completion of the ESB fibre network was a milestone not only for the ESB, but for the entire country.
ESB Telecoms will make broadband bandwidth available to the wholesale market and is providing bandwidth to other telecommunications companies and industry in general.
The network, which cost €50 million to complete, uses fibres wrapped around the electricity transmission network. It took 30 months to complete the network.